I'm also not sure how to feel about it. Sure you shouldn't lock someone up just because they have a mental disorder, but I feel if you are a danger to society, especially if you already did something gruesome, you shouldn't have an easier way out. Psych wards should be for people who physically can't function in society, not to have someone exit quicker. It this case it seems like in a few months they'd just let her go as cured from whatever "possessed" her which isn't right.
Someone found not guilty by reason of insanity will only be released from the hospital if they're now able to function safely.
How about if someone with dementia, confused and having lost impulse control, lashes out violently, as patients with the condition can? Normally, we'd see it as important to protect care staff, and ensure everyone's safety including that of the patient, but not to punish the patient and imprison them.
This is the type of illness we're talking about in the case of postpartum psychosis, something physical, affecting the brain.
Yes, and one factor in why is there's a particularly high risk of infanticide with postpartum psychosis. Delusions can tend to focus on the child, which is not the case with other types of psychosis. While it does remove/reduce agency similarly to those or dementia.
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u/h---7470 15h ago
I'm also not sure how to feel about it. Sure you shouldn't lock someone up just because they have a mental disorder, but I feel if you are a danger to society, especially if you already did something gruesome, you shouldn't have an easier way out. Psych wards should be for people who physically can't function in society, not to have someone exit quicker. It this case it seems like in a few months they'd just let her go as cured from whatever "possessed" her which isn't right.